Gyroscope



F. E. GRAY 2,483,826

GYROSCOPE Filed Dec. 28, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fwd A5 Elf? BY MWZZAM;

. ATTORNEY 1 Oct. 4, 1949.

F. E. GRAY Q 2,483,826

GYROSCOPE FiledDec. 28, 1944 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EY 0d. 4, 1949. F. E. GRAY 2,483,826

Filed Dec. 28, 1944 5 Sheets Sheet 3 Oct. 4, 1949. F. E. GRAY 2,483,826

GYROS COPE Filed Dec. 28, 1944 5 She etsSheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES is OFFICE 4 Claims.

.Thepresent invention relates to cag-ing devices .for instruments employing gimbal rings and is more particularly directed-to cag-in devices for gyroscopes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cagi-ng device which is operated by a movable wall of a housing or-casing forming a variable capacity chamber and in which the movable wall is connected with the stationary wall of ahousing by an expansive and flexible sealing sleeve.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a cam on the movable wall and a cam follower associated with "a gimbal caging element, and toprovid'e lfor adjusting the position of the cam with respect to the wall.

carryingout the last mentioned object, it is another object of the present invention to provide a driving gear *on the movable wal1 and a cooperating gear on the "cam through which the relativeposition "of the cam with respect to the movable Wall can be adjusted at will.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

lInthe drawings:

.Fig. 1 is aside view of a gyroscope with the casing therefor removed and showing substantially all of the lower casing in cross section;

'Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof the upper .part of the gyroscope, the section being taken on line 2..2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower part of the gyroscope, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on the lines 44 =and5-5 of Fig. Bis asecticnal view taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and-.8 are fragmentary views partly in section showing the movable wall of the casing in-difierent positions from that shown in Fig. -1; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section, the section being taken rmline 9-9 of 2; and

Fig. 10 a side view of the gyroscope on a smaller scale turned 180 from that shown in F Although the present invention is applicable to many instruments of the type employing a .gin bal ring-orsgimbal: ines ithas beenshown-and 2 7 described in connection with a gyroscope employing two gimbal rings. 7

Referring first to Fig. .10, the gyroscope 20 comprises a main casing 2| having a GOP end cover 22 and a bottom endcover v2'3. The top endcover 22 includes a fitting 25 which is arranged to be connected with a source of .low pressure for -the purpose of creating arpartial vacuum within the casing 2|. The front of the casing 2| is provided with a transparent window iii held in place by a frame 2'1. An electro-magnet is carried in the hollow boss portion29 of the casing 2! and .this electro-magnet is connected by terminals 30 and 3lto an electric circuit.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the

yroscope includes an outer im al r 3 nclud ngspac upri ts 34 d .5 wh h r connected withoneanother at the bottom by nor oni n a he q-p oy o t on 8- Ac pper bearingris formed in the central part 39 of the portion 38 and the lower portion 31 carries a pin'tle 4E]. The central portions of the uprights 3 and '3 oa rv hearin s for a secon eim ring "l zi n ng sim lar fro and rear por i n 43 and end portions 44 and 45. One form of be ring for the gimbal ring 42 is shown in Fig. 9 wherein the upright carries a screw 4'! having a so ke .fo a hard e b ll 48 which oo t with aseries of like balls 49 arranged in ring form t on with n hesocket 5! in h en 44 o the gimbal ring 42. The balls '49 are held in position by a retaining ring 52 which in turn is held in position by a circularly shaped split ring formed of resilient material. The same type of bearing is provided at theopposite side of the gimbal rings. Thus it will be seen that the gimbal ring 42 is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis. A rotor 55 is suitably journalled in the op- .posite porti0ns'43.

.An indicator in the form of a band 58. is carried by the outer gimbal ring 33 and is viewable through the window '26. Thisindicator is marked i de s a d ho w ndo .26 p t bly arries a vertical disposed hair line with which the markings onthe indicator 5,8 are arranged to register.

The bearing forthe upper part of the outer gimbal ring 33 may be similar to thatshown in Fig. 9 in which the screw 4.1.is carried in the upper cover v.22 andthe cone or the ball carried by thescrew willcooperate with balls similar to balls 49 disposed within the part 39.

The -bottom cover 23 includes a centrally disposed and upwardly extending boss Bil and this boss is drilled and counterbored to provide an up e o1n rfloo 151-. a circ ar h l 2' a smaller diameter shoulder 63 therebelow and a hole 65. A plug 66 fits within the hole 65 and is provided with a circularly shaped flange 51 which rests upon the shoulder 83. Plug 36 is bored to receive shims 69 and a hardened steel block 10. A hardened steel ball H is disposed within the bore of the plug 66 and the bottom of the pintle 40 rests upon this ball. A washer shaped oil bearing pad 13 surrounds the upper part of plug 66 and rests upon flange 61. This pad 13 is retained in position by a hardened steel washer shaped disc 14 which rests upon the shoulder 62. A series of circularly arranged hardened steel balls 15 surround the pintel 40 and ride upon the disc 14. These balls are held in position by a retaining ring 11. The retaining ring and the balls are held in position by a metallic disc 18 which in turn is held in position by. a circularly shaped split ring 19. This ring 19 is formed of resilient material and is resiliently held in a circular groove 80 formed in the boss 59.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the gimbal 33 is retained in position between the upper bearing, contained in the portion 39 and the top cover 22, and the lower bearing 1I, yet it is free to rotate about a vertical axis.

A plurality of vertically extending holes 82 are connected with the upper chamber GI through the screen 83 to the exterior of casing 2I. Screen 83 rests within a recess 84 in the bottom of the cover 23 and is held in place by a split ring 35.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the lower portion 31 of gimbal ring 33 is provided with a hub like portion 81. This hub like portion is provided with a central bore 88 and a counter-bored portion 89 into which is pressed a plug 90 having a flange shoulder 9I' which bears against the bottom of portion 81. The pintle 40 is formed integrally with the plug 90. The lower part of hub 81 is provided with a series of lateral holes 92 to establish intercommunication between passage 9! in the boss 60 and passage 88.

An upwardly extending bracket 94 is secured to the top side of the bottom portion 31 of the gimbal ring 33 by a screw 95. The upper part of this bracket is bifurcated to receive a tube 99 which is clamped between the tines 91 of the bracket. by a screw 99. The tube is formed into a curved section I90 and the passage I M thereof is connected with a passage I02 which extends laterally from and is connected with the passage 88. Passage I8I merges into a passage I03 extending toward the rotor 55. The end of passage I03 terminates adjacent the periphery of the rotor and the rotor is provided with a series of notches I04' which completely surround the rotor. When a partial vacuum is present within the casing 2|, air will be directed through passages 82, chamber 6|, holes 92, passages 88, I02, IOI and I03.

Air impinging upon the walls of the notches will"! cause rotation of the rotor 55.

Due to drifting of the gimbal rings, it is necessary from time to time to cage the same, that is, to realign the axis of the rotor 55. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to shift the posi-"' tion of the gimbal rings. In the present illustration, this is accomplished pneumatically. For this purpose there is provided two spaced walls I06 and I01, the periphery of which are connected with one another by a flexible and expansible element in a form of a sleeve I09. This sleeve may be formed of any suitable material but in the preferred embodiment is shown as formed of rubber. Walls I06 and I01 and sleeve I09 cooperate to provide a sealed chamber III).

4 Wall IE6 is secured to the top surface of the bottom cover 23 by screws III and the bottom cover is secured to the casing 2| by screws H2.

The top side of wall I01 carries an internal tooth ring gear II4. This ring gear is mounted for rotation and is prevented from displacement by a ring I I5 which extends over the periphery of the ring gear. Retaining ring I I5 is held in place by screws I IS. A block H8 is secured to the ring gear by rivots I I9. The top of this block I I8 provides camming surfaces which when viewed from above are of generally circular contour. These surfaces indicated at I and I2I extend from the top of the block downwardly and merge at the point indicated at I22. The block II8 has a central opening and is journalled on the upper end of boss 60.

A cam follower in a form of a pin I25 is slidably mounted and projects below the lower horizontal portion 31 of gimbal ring 33. Pin I25 is provided with a head I26 Which limits the extent of downward movement thereof. Normally, the end of the pin clears the lower portions of the camming surfaces whereby the gimbal ring is free to rotate partially in either direction. The upper end of pin I25 is arranged to engage a screw I21. This screw is carried by an arm I29 which is pivotally connected by a pin I30 to the upright of gimbal ring 33. The screw I21 is adjustably secured to the arm I29 by a nut I3I. Arm I29 extends below the rotor 55 and projects upwardly adjacent the end portion 44 of gimbal ring 42. The top side of the end of the arm I29 is provided with a fiat I33 which is arranged to engage the flat I34 formed on the bottom side of end portion 44.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the wall I01 is raised sufficiently, one or the other of the cam surfaces I20 or I2I, if the gimbal ring 33 is out of line, will engage the bottom of the pin I25 and upon further upward movement of the wall I01, the pin I25 will cam toward the point I22, because the weight of thearm I29 is impressed upon the top of pin I25 through screw I21 and this weight is augmented by a leaf sprin I32a. This leaf spring is attached to the upright 35 of gimbal ring 33 by a rivet I321). The upward movement of the pin I25 willcause a rotation of the arm I29 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the fiat I33 on arm I29 will engage the fiat I34 of end portion 44 and if at that time the gimbal ring 42 has shifted, the flat I33, in engaging the flat I34, will cause alignment of these flats and a shifting of the gimbalring 42.

Thus, it will be seen that the gimbal rings 33 and 42 are caged by the upwardmovem'ent of the wall I01. The upwardmovement of wall I01 is accomplished by increasing the pressure differential between the chamber H0 and the exterior thereof and this is accomplished by admitting air to chamber H0. The control of the inflation and deflation of chamber H0 is effected by a valve structure I36. It will be seen from Fig." 1 that the wall I06 is provided with a horizontal bore I31 which is intersected by three vertically drilled passages I38, I39 and I40. The bottom of passage I38 is connected with a transversely extending passage I42 which is connected to the exterior of the casing 2! through the filtering screen 83. The upper ends of passage I38, I39 and I40 are in open communication with the chamber H0 and the lower ends of passages I39 and I40 are connected to the interior of casing 2I. The flow of air through passages I38, I39 and I40 is controlled by a cylinder valve I43 having circular *5 grooves W44 and I45. *Valve 1-49 *is adapted to reciprocate within the bore H91 and when in one position, chamber III! is open to altmosphere through passage *I98,-gr'oove 144 and -'passage M2.

"*A'iren'tering chamber IIll at atmospheric pressmewill-cause tl're wall lill' tcibe lifted to-perform the -caging-ope1=ation.

Valve I43 *is n'ormally urged to the position shown in Fig.1 by a leaf spring I'4.I, the ends of which bear respectively against the more of :two eletro-"magnets, oneao'f which is shown at 149. opening is zprovided =in 'the leaf spring 141 which encircles a stem I"5Il -formed integrally with the "valve IL4'3. A barshaped armature :I EEI is also provided with a central opening which :recei ves the stem I 58-and said ear-mature is :in- -terposed between the entl of'the valve 1 M3 andithe leaf spring I431. A-'coil spring' I;53 surrounds the stem 456 and its interposed between a spring I41 and an L-shaped clip I54. Clip I54 is provided with an opening which receives the stem I58. A pin .465. extends through -.the .stem and limits the outward movement of the clip I54. A lip I51 on the wall Illfi prevents misalignment of the armature I 4 I and leaf 'spring "I 41.

When'the armature I5I lisattracted by the-electro-magnet I49, valve I43 ismoved tothe'ri ght, as wiewed .in Fig. 1, to move groove I44 out :of registering position with the ;passage $39 and into position in which it registers with 'theipassage I39; likewise, groove I45 is simultaneously moved into registering position with passage I49 so that the chamber III) is no longer connected to atmosphere but is in intercommunication with the interior of the gyroscope casing 2I which latter is under reduced pressure. The wall I6! is immediately moved toward collapsing position through the action of a coil spring I59. Coil spring I59 is interposed between an inwardly extending flange I60 of the wall I96 and the flange I6I on the bottom ring I62 which latter is suitably secured to the downwardly extending hub I63 on the wall II". The hub I63 slides upon the boss 60.

During normal operation the circuit to the electro-magnet I49 is closed and chamber II!) is deflated, as shown in Fig. 8. When it is desirable to cage the gimbal rings, the circuit to the electro-magnet I49 is interrupted whereby the leaf spring I4'I forces the valve I43 to the position shown in Fig. 1 which will cause the wall III! to move to the caging position for both gimbal rings, as shown in Fig. '7. When the caging operation is complete, the circuit to the electromagnet I49 is again completed so as to retract the valve I43 and as previously explained, spring I59 will return the wall I81 to the position shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawings, the caging is effected for returning the gimbal ring 33 so that it can determine the position of the casing with respect to the 0 indicia. When the gyroscope is used on an airplane, the direction of flight of the airplane will be changed so that the hair line on the window 26 registers with the 0 setting if, after caging, the hair line and 0 in dicia do not register. When the 0 setting is utilized by the pilot in navigation, this 0 setting is employed and maintained by periodically caging the gimbal ring and then correcting the direction of flight so as to return to the 0 indication. Under certain circumstances, it is more desirable to have the indicia on the gyroscope correspond to the angular degree of flight, with respect to north, in which event the hair *line con the window 26 should register with the indicia-indicating the-angle o'f lflig'ht. For #ex- -ample, if Eth'e angle df flight is supposed to be direotly #easty the 'corrections of flight should be 'effected on the indicia 90on the-scale 58. To carry out this :'feature of "the invention, a pinion gear 165 is provided for turning the ring :gear H 14 and likewise the cam block I I8. The hub I 66 df the gear I 65 extends through a hole IIi'I in thehub W53 0f wall 19 and through a hole in t-he ring 46 1. 1A hexagonally shaped hole 169 eiitend-s-through thehub I66 and a hexagonally shaped-stem IllH-ixtends into the hole IE9. JRota'tion 0f the fistem H9 causes rotation of the pinion gear I 55 which imparts rotation to 'the mamming' block I l8 through ring gear .I I4. The stem fill fits loosely within the hole 169 whereby the -hub I166 may slide relative to the stem when thewall -I 0'I ls'raised and. lowered.

Stem ll 1 0 turned through a knurled :knob EH2. "The stem 10 :includes .a cylindrical portion .113 :whichis dournalled in'the cover 29. A flange portion I14 prevents the :accidental withdrawal =of the stemnfrom its operated position. :Suitable :packing 'material I1 5 surrounds the cylindrical portion-M3 110 prevent leakage .of air therealong and into the main casing. A toothed-wheel Ill is also secured to the stem and a .detent H8 is =yieldingly urged byta spring H9 to-one 10f the spaces-between :a pair :of teeth :for holding the stem and likewise the pinion gear I55 inan :ad justed position. By turning the knob Il'Z, the gimbal ring 33 can be turned to any desirable position by rotating the same through the cam follower pin I25. In the example given, the pilot in traveling directly east will periodically cage the gimbals and then adjust the direction of the ship so that the hair line on the window 25 registers with the indicia on the band 58.

Qne of the advantages of the present invention lies in providing for the adjustment of the position of the gimbal ring 33 from the exterior of the main casing ZI.

The periphery of the walls I89 and I0! are provided with grooves I8I and I 82, respectively.

The upper part of the rubber sleeve I99 is pressed into the groove I81 and held in place by a tightly drawn wire ring I83 and the lower part of this I sleeve IE9 is pressed into the groove I82 and held therein by a tightl drawn wire ring I84. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the rubber sleeve cooperates with the walls I86 and I0! to form a sealed chamber IIll.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination with a device, such as a gyroscope having a gimbal ring, a caging mechanism for the gimbal ring comprising a casing having relatively movable walls and a flexible sealing sleeve connected to said walls and cooperating with said walls to form a variable capacity chamber therebetween, a cam carried by one of the walls and movable relative thereto, a driving gear on the cam carrying wall, a driven gear on the cam and cooperating with the driving gear, means for rotating the driving gear, a caging element operatively associated with the gimbal ring, a cam follower arranged in cooperative relation with said cam and ring, and means for controlling the flow of fluid between the chamber and the exterior thereof.

2. In combination with a device, such as a gyroscope having a gimbal ring, a caging mechanism for the gimbal ring comprising a casing having a first wall, a second wall movable relative thereto, and a flexible sealing sleeve connected to said walls and cooperating with said walls to form a variable capacity chamber therebetween, a cam rotatably carried by the second wall, a caging element operatively associated with the gimbal ring, a cam follower arranged in cooperative relation with said cam and ring, means for rotatably adjusting the position of the cam relative to the second wall, and means for controlling the flow of fluid between the chamber and the exterior thereof.

3. In combination with a device, such as a gyroscope having a gimbal ring, a caging mechanism for the gimbal ring comprising a casing having relatively movable walls and a flexible sealing sleeve connected to said walls and cooperating with said walls to form a variable capacity chamber therebetween, a cam rotatably carried by one of the walls, a driving gear on the cam carrying Wall, a driven gear on the cam and cooperating with the driving gear, means for rotating the driving gear, a caging element operatively associated with the gimbal ring, a cam follower arranged in cooperative relation with said cam and ring, and means for controlling the flow of fluid between the chamber and the exterior thereof.

4. In combination with a device, such as a gyroscope, having an inner gimbal ring and an outer gimbal ring, one of which is pivoted to rotate about a vertical axis and the second of which is pivoted to rotate about a horizontal axis; a caging mechanism therefor comprising a single fluid pressure responsive casing having relatively movable parts responsive to differensaid. gimbal rings; and means for controlling the pressure differentials acting on said last mentioned movable part of said casing.

FLOYD E. GRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,451,928 Tanner Apr. 17, 1923 1,996,896 Bennett Apr. 9, 1935 2,207,875 Roland July 16, 1940 2,273,309 Zand Feb. 1'1, 1942 

